Am I lukewarm?

Like many Christians, I try to read the Bible and pray every day. But sometimes, I question how passionate and committed I really am in different areas of my life. There are moments when I feel kind of apathetic and not very enthusiastic about my faith. I wonder if I'm really giving it my all or just getting by with the minimum. 

These moments make me think about my faith and push me to aim for a deeper purpose and stronger belief. I never want to settle for just being lukewarm or indifferent about anything in my life.

Being lukewarm is very important to recognize. One of the factors that pose a threat to this involvement is apathy, and over time, apathy can become the norm leading to lukewarmness.

In Revelation 3:15-16, it says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." 

This means Jesus wants us to be truly passionate and committed to Him, not just going through the motions. It's all about having genuine love and devotion, not just going along with things half-heartedly.

Do we ever really take those words to heart? 

I've caught myself making excuses, like thinking, "Well, I do go to church and try to be a good person," or the one that hits close to home, "I'm busy with church and family stuff." These reasons might sound okay, but really, I'm more focused on getting things done than on praying or being close to Jesus. The Bible challenges us to look beyond these excuses and honestly think about how much we really care about our commitment with our relationship with Jesus.

The problem about being lukewarm is that most people would not even recognize their heart is in a place of lukewarmness.   

How do I know if I am lukewarm? 

Consider reflecting on areas of your life that question whether there are lukewarmness. 

 Here are four questions for you to think about:

1. What does my relationship with God look like right now? Am I making time to talk to Him, worship, and read His Word, or have I been kind of lazy about it?

2. Have I let all the things happening in the world distract me from my passion for God and His plans? What are my priorities?  Am I putting God's priorities over the things that are popular or trendy right now? Am I showing my faith in my everyday life, or am I keeping it separate from everything else I do?

3. Do I feel excited and purposeful about my faith, or have I been feeling a bit distant and uncaring about it? Have I been struggling with apathy?  

4. If you feel like you're not really putting in the effort in your relationship with God, it's important to ask yourself, what needs to change? Take some time to reflect on where your heart truly stands.

Recognizing when you're not fully engaged, requires you to honestly consider your attitudes, actions, and level of commitment to your faith and personal growth. Here are four common signs that might indicate you need to give your spiritual life a little more attention:

1. Inconsistent prayer life.

If you're not regularly talking with God on purpose, it could mean you're not consistently striving to know Him. If prayer feels more like an afterthought or something you only do when you need something, it might indicate that you could be more committed to your relationship with God.

2. Reluctance to serve.

If you're not feeling eager to help others or get involved in your church, it could be a sign that you're not fully engaged in your faith journey.  

3. Feeling disconnected during worship and fellowship.

If you find yourself feeling emotionally distant or not really engaged during times of worship or when you're with other believers, it might indicate that you're not fully embracing your faith. 

4. Making excuses for spiritual complacency.

If you find yourself making excuses for not being fully committed to your faith, like being too busy or going through a tough time, it's important to recognize that these could be signs that you need to put more effort in being more outward focused and commune with God.

Take a moment to think about any areas in your life where you might be feeling a bit lukewarm. Just remember, the gospel reminds us that God is pursuing a relationship with us through Jesus.  Everything we do flows out of this relationship, out of what God is doing in us and through Jesus.  The Bible uses the word “covenant” to describe this relationship.   

We are created to thrive and grow within this relationship, and like every relationship, it entails our active participation.